Locations

Verto Apartments

Located in the Stonefields development at Mt Wellington, Verto provides a variety of one and two bedroom apartments, distributed over five levels. The 60 apartments were developed specifically for purchasers on a limited budget.

ProjectVerto Apartments

ClientTodd Property Group Limited

LocationAuckland

Completion2018

Category
Residential + Houses

<p>
Located in the Stonefields development at Mt Wellington, Verto provides a variety of one and two bedroom apartments, distributed over five levels. The 60 apartments were developed specifically for purchasers on a limited budget.</p>

The supply of quality affordable housing remains a critical factor in Auckland’s growth. Creating better buildings that cost less is a challenge many Auckland architects are responding to. From the outset, this project pursued exceptional design solutions delivered at an affordable cost.

Located in the Stonefields development at Mt Wellington, Verto provides a variety of one and two bedroom apartments, distributed over five levels. The 60 apartments were developed specifically for purchasers on a limited budget.

The apartment plans are very efficient while providing a sense of spaciousness, maximising natural light and cross ventilation. Vertical access is via two circulation cores to main access routes at each level which in turn connect via bridges to individual apartments. Apartments have either a courtyard or balcony and most are located to the northern façade where shading and privacy are provided by metal screening.

One of the key design challenges was the placement of the external circulation against the southern street edge – required to allow balconies to face north. Addressing the street edge with an otherwise utilitarian building element demanded an engaging facade treatment and again, metal screens were used. The composition of these screens in conjunction with lightweight balconies and elevated boardwalks create depth and shadow. While reducing the perceived mass of the building, the screens also ensure a high degree of external articulation.

The clarity of the relationship between shared circulation, apartments and vertical core provides spatial generosity for the building’s inhabitants. The vertical core spaces are designed with natural light and high-quality materials, despite the affordable-cost apartment budget. This provides informal social spaces for developing a sense of community and creates a sense of ownership of the shared spaces beyond each individual apartment, a vital element to the success of apartment living. Previous similar projects have enabled this architectural practice to use the low-cost apartment typology as a “learning ground” for future improvement.- New Zealand Institute of Architects Local Awards Citation, 2017